DAVAO CITY—A disaster hub which will serve as a satellite facility of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Davao de Oro has been established in the municipality of Pantukan to watch over the coastal towns of the province.
Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga officially opened the Andam Action Center Resilience Hub located inside the compound of Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital of Pantukan.
The office has assigned four of its personnel at the hub. Head of PDRRMO Joseph Randy Loy said more personnel would be assigned at the hub to focus on four main areas on disaster risk reduction and management.
“This hub is…envisioned [to respond and cater to the four thematic pillars of DRRM: prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response and early recovery, as well as disaster rehabilitation] and recovery,” Loy said.
Davao de Oro, formerly the province of Compostela Valley, has three of its towns situated along the coast of Davao Gulf. Aside from Pantukan, the other two are Maco and Mabini.
The hub was constructed at a budget of P3 million, equipped with radio communication, a fiber boat, and patient-transport vehicles.
As a satellite office of the PDRRMO, the hub would serve the coastal towns and other local government units (LGUs) that need additional responders during emergencies and calamities.
“It provides pre-hospital care to victims of vehicular accidents and [LGUs in need of support during disasters, while making sure that proximity of our services are delivered within] the ‘golden hour’ for victims to survive,” the PDRRMO head added.
Gonzaga also distributed radio equipment to all Municipal DRRMO under Davao de Oro, as she urged them to request from their mayors to establish similar centers.
“We really have to work hand-in-hand with…stakeholders, because the [roles of the PDRRMO and the MDRRMO require them not only to wait for natural calamities and hazards to happen],” she said.
Fire prevention orientation
MEANWHILE, 137 newly recruited firefighter trainees for Fire Officer 1 (FO1) from Davao Region’s provinces underwent a 45-day orientation program in Davao de Oro Fire Emergency and Disaster Training Center in July.
Senior Supt. Richard V. Arbutante, Bureau of Fire Protection-Region 11 director, said the orientation was the FO1s’ first glimpse of a six-month training on fire response.
“We don’t choose the time and kind of emergencies. As long as there [are lives, properties, and the environment are in danger, we will stand up to challenges],” Arbutante said. “The concept of this orientation program and the rest of the training was focused on life-saving. That is our responsibility.”
Each trainee took an aptitude test and a comprehensive exam which measured the level of understanding and learning gained from the orientation program.